ADAPTED VERSION · dyslexia and neurodiverse students · B1

Session 3: In court

Question: Can you prove that you are innocent?
Step 1

Goals

Step 2

Warm-up

Image analysis: a real trial in Salem. George Jacobs, an old man, was accused in 1692. Who is accusing him? How does the painter show the courtroom and the crowd?
Tompkins H. Matteson, The Trial of George Jacobs, August 5, 1692, 1855
Tompkins H. Matteson, The Trial of George Jacobs, August 5, 1692, 1855. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

The judge thinks you are either with the court or against it. Is that fair? Yes / No.

Step 3

Read

Short text. Mary Warren says the girls were pretending. The judge, Danforth, does not believe her. Proctor tells the truth about Abigail. Elizabeth lies to protect him. Mary is afraid and accuses Proctor.
"A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between."
Arthur Miller, The Crucible, Act III, Deputy Governor Danforth
Step 4

Tasks

Task a. Who says what? Match five sentences with Mary, Proctor, Danforth, Abigail.
Task b. Court words: judge, guilty, innocent, truth, lie, Your Honour.
Task c. Small task: a court scene in your own words.
Step 5

More tasks

Close reading: Danforth

Read again Danforth's sentence in the Documents.

  1. Can you be neutral in Danforth's court?
  2. Is Danforth fair? Why?
Sentence starters
  • In Danforth's court, you are...
  • I think Danforth is... because...
Answer key
  1. No: you are with the court or against it.
  2. Open answer
Step 6

Sentence starters

  • Your Honour,...
  • She is lying because...
  • I tell the truth:...
  • Please believe me!
Step 7

Role play

Groups of three: Danforth, Mary, Proctor. Mary tells the truth, Proctor helps her, Danforth asks questions.

Step 8

Gap-fill worksheet

QR code to this worksheet
Word bank: judge · pretending · lies · truth · guilty · innocent
  1. Danforth is the .
  2. The girls were .
  3. Elizabeth to protect John.
  4. Proctor tells the .
  5. Danforth thinks Proctor is .
  6. Proctor is .
Answer key
  1. judge
  2. pretending
  3. lies
  4. truth
  5. guilty
  6. innocent
Step 9

Homework

Write the court scene in eight lines.

Watch the film at home

The Crucible (1996), directed by Nicholas Hytner. In France, the film is called La Chasse aux sorcières.

  1. Where to watch: see the list of streaming and rental options on JustWatch France.
  2. DVD: ask at your local library or médiathèque.
  3. Official trailer: on the Apple TV page of the film.
  4. Scenes to watch: Act I: the girls dance in the forest at night (the opening of the film). Act II: the officers arrest Elizabeth at home. Act III: in court, the girls turn against Mary Warren. Act IV: Proctor tears his confession and walks to the gallows.

Watch with English subtitles if you can.

Step 10

Assessment grid

CriteriaLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4
Role playVery shortBasicClearClear and lively
Court wordsNoneSomeGoodMany and correct

Links reminder